The current technological revolution is transforming the jobs of tomorrow. As boundaries between disciplines become increasingly blurred, new disciplines are emerging such as bio-engineering and neuro-economics, and the emphasis is shifting from learning facts to combining ideas from different places to develop more creative solutions to complex problems. As these changes gather pace, having skills which are transferable across academic disciplines is vital for students’ academic and career success in the 21st Century.
Today, we are at the beginning of a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing and biotechnology, to name just a few, are all building on and amplifying one another. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will create many new cross-functional roles for which employees will need both technical and social and analytical skills.
The Cambridge Dream summer programme is based on an inter-disciplinary learning approach which gives students the opportunity to develop transferable subject knowledge and leadership skills.
Younger students (12-15 years old) work in mixed-nationality teams on exciting STEAM-focused projects and challenges, such as robotics, coding, 3D design and print, and virtual reality, which are carefully designed to deliver specific skills outcomes.
Older students (16-18 years old) take part in interactive workshops focused on developing higher-level transferable leadership and academic skills, such as public speaking, essay-writing, independent study, research, critical thinking and persuasive reasoning. See a sample 2-week timetable for 16-18 year olds.
In addition, both age groups (12-15 years and 16-18 years) take part in skill-building activities, such as a Model United Nations debate and a Dragon’s Den business pitch, where they work together in teams to articulate convincing arguments and gain a deeper understanding of contemporary global challenges such as sustainability and inequality.
During the course, students will undertake a wide range of challenging tasks and activities to improve their confidence and hone their abilities in 10 key skill areas:
1. Communication
2. Leadership and Teamwork
3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
4. Creativity and Lateral Thinking
5. Independent Study and Resilience
